Possible new ST partner announced at end of May??
 

The VP of International Affairs and Alliances for KE is being quoted as saying that they are looking forward to considering a new member at the May 31 meeting of the alliance in Istanbul, most likely one from India, Latin America or Southeast Asia. "Those are the areas we are focused on," he said.
http://www.atwonline.com/news/story.html?storyID=12604

I'd bet KingFisher in India, MH in SE Asia and ?? in Latin America are the most likely options, though who knows what will actually come from any of it...

I bet on JET Airways, Vietnam airlines and maybe a brazilian one for the LatAm.
MH is no longer the target I guess, too high economical issues.

:(

I think it will be China Airlines(CI)

I see AF is sponsoring Tarom, FT's long-running inside joke.

Don't Hold Your Breath!
 

So if new carriers are indeed introduced for ST membership, when is the earliest we could expect the deal to be finalized? China Southern took about 3 years, and KQ/CM/UX were over two years from announcement to membership!

CI was already announced at the beginning of the year. I hope it will achieve full membership this soon, but that isn't very likely. I'd love to take some of those DL codeshare flights and earn my CO eqm's.

Yes, precisely. I'm sure if CI is considered to join the alliance. If they are in negotiations with Skyteam member of board will approved real soon. Its should be wait for their finalization approval from Skyteam member of board.

I guess we will find out tomorrow. Reports on ATW were Kingfisher for India and Gol/Varig for Latin America. It would be great if MH would finally join.

Which would make those SGN-LHR fares all the more attractive.

It's looking like they won't be announcing any new members soon, but there is now confirmation that they are considering both Malaysian and Vietnam in the next few years and possibly Bangkok later on, and that they are talking to both Kingfisher and Jet. Haven't seen much about South American carriers lately.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/Business/06Jun2008_biz40.php

Vietnam Airlines would be an intriguing addition. Granted, MH would be far more useful, as they have a bit more breadth...but VN would be cool.

When exactly is CI joining?
 

I am so ready to dump my family's CI miles on AF/DL/KE or even SU when they join Skyteam:D The only significant Skyteam presence in Australasia is KE, and it's hard to use Skyteam round the world product in this part of the world.

CO flies from Cairns to Honolulu and AF from Noumea to LAX then onto CDG, but both of these reach small general population.

I read it somewhere Kingfisher is negotiating to join Skyteam, which is a great news, especially compared to Star Alliance getting Air India instead:td:

I thought Bangkok was owned by Thai - seems like it'd be kinda tricky if Thai is in *A. Am I mixed up (more than usual)?

We'd have to figure out transit visa issues with VN. I believe that you can just stay airside in SGN and HAN, but if not the visa issues would make using them as a connection airline rather annoying.
CO flies CNS-GUM, not HNL. And I'd love to see IT join up in India, especially if they can get their BLR-SFO flight off the ground as it would make some RTW possibilities interesting, but I'm not sure that any new long-haul routes are going to be launching right now.